If you happen to be from Edmonton and have spent any amount of time on the popularly loved/hated Whyte Avenue, chances are you know Daniel Buxton. Spending the last ten years busking in front of the Army and Navy store, he is endearingly referred to as Edmonton's Chad Vangaalen. Fuck that. Vangaalen's got nothing on this guy.
Within the first week of living here I wandered with a few friends into the Black Dog, the unprententious hipster hangout of Whyte, for a couple of drinks. Moments later, The DB Buxton Revue did a quick line check, then subsequently blew my mind.
Reminiscent of garage-gospel greats like Arthur Lee of Love and Ian Svenonius of The Make-Up, Buxton screams, moans, kicks, jumps and thrusts his rhythm guitar riffs through hit after hit, including a catchy pop song about fucking his ex-girlfriend from behind after she does some cocaine. If you ask him how long of a set he would like to play, he responds by saying that he can play for four hours if you want him to (his ex might not be the only one doing lines!).
His backing band is equally impressive, pulling off killer soul-filled bass lines, catchy keyboard melodies and the jazzy drumbeats of Jenni Roberts. You can't help but get up and dance, especially when he asks you to with his cute crooked-toothed smile.
Recently releasing their new EP, No Refund, Buxton recently went on a mini-tour eastward with friends Illfit Outfit (they share drummer Jenni Roberts) and Doug Hoyer (also in Illfit Outfit). No Refunds is an amazing recording from start to finish, delving beyond just one sound into ballads, disco, and grimy pop, amplifying the notion that he has had a lot of time to develop his style(s). Case in point: the funk/rock title track "No Refund" is well-seasoned and matured to a steamy perfection.
Check them out, kids; The DB Buxton Revue may just put Edmonton back in the spotlight.
www.myspace.com/dbbuxton
